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potential

po·ten·tial
P p

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [puh-ten-shuh l]
    • /pəˈtɛn ʃəl/
    • /pəˈtenʃl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [puh-ten-shuh l]
    • /pəˈtɛn ʃəl/

Definitions of potential word

  • adjective potential possible, as opposed to actual: the potential uses of nuclear energy. 1
  • adjective potential capable of being or becoming: a potential danger to safety. 1
  • adjective potential Grammar. expressing possibility: the potential subjunctive in Latin; the potential use of can in I can go. 1
  • adjective potential Archaic. potent1 . 1
  • noun potential possibility; potentiality: an investment that has little growth potential. 1
  • noun potential a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of potential

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English potencial (< Old French) < Late Latin potentiālis. See potency, -al1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Potential

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

potential popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

potential usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for potential

adj potential

  • likely — probably or apparently destined (usually followed by an infinitive): something not likely to happen.
  • hidden — concealed; obscure; covert: hidden meaning; hidden hostility.
  • possible — that may or can be, exist, happen, be done, be used, etc.: a disease with no possible cure.
  • probable — likely to occur or prove true: He foresaw a probable business loss. He is the probable writer of the article.
  • budding — If you describe someone as, for example, a budding businessman or a budding artist, you mean that they are starting to succeed or become interested in business or art.

Antonyms for potential

adj potential

  • unlikely — not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
  • helpless — unable to help oneself; weak or dependent: a helpless invalid.
  • lacking — being without; not having; wanting; less: Lacking equipment, the laboratory couldn't undertake the research project.
  • impossible — not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
  • unpromising — unlikely to be favorable or successful, as the weather, a situation, or a career.

Top questions with potential

  • what is potential energy?
  • what does potential mean?
  • what is action potential?
  • what is gravitational potential energy?
  • what is the definition of potential energy?
  • what is an action potential?
  • how to calculate potential energy?
  • what is potential?
  • what is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
  • how to calculate water potential?
  • how to find potential energy?
  • what does potential energy mean?
  • what is electric potential?
  • what is electrostatic potential?
  • what is potential difference?

See also

Matching words

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